Boots / shoes to wear with your flight jacket s...

[Grant]

Speaking of Ralph Lauren, here's my old RRL rough outs bought on sale several years ago. Supposedly RRL used a Pennsylvania boot maker who was contracted during the war to supply boots to the US Army. They've certainly held up well over the years with multiple dubbing.

 

[Drzdave58]

Excellent choices on eBay. The one significant detail the new ones didn’t retain is the famous “V” cleat on the heel. A small metal wedge. This would slow down wear and is a very cool detail IMHO. Adds to the “click-clack”sound, too. If you get a pair, look for that. There are shoemakers who can restore them too, if needed.

View attachment 159075

So I scored a pair of late 70s I believe Florsheim Imperial Longwings today. I have been on a search for this shoe for awhile. A fellow on marketplace who doesn't live far from me found them at a thrift store and traded them to me for a vintage Ping putter I had. They are in amazing condition.

 

[Jennison]

Nice score! Those are the ticket. There’s barely any color loss to the sole edges and they still shine. If it were I, I’d get the vamps good and damp (in the creases), put some shoe trees inside them for a couple of days, run some black edge-coat around the edges, and they’ll look nearly new. Then you can decide how you want to condition the leather, which as mentioned, already looks fabulous.

 

[Drzdave58]

Nice score! Those are the ticket. There’s barely any color loss to the sole edges and they still shine. If it were I, I’d get the vamps good and damp (in the creases), put some shoe trees inside them for a couple of days, run some black edge-coat around the edges, and they’ll look nearly new. Then you can decide how you want to condition the leather, which as mentioned, already looks fabulous.

Yes..good advice..they weren't very dirty so I just wiped them off with a damp cloth. Applied Venetian shoe cream touched up a couple spots with black Saphir cream. A good brushing. I kinda like the faded patina on the edging so I may leave them like that for now. The interior leather heel pads were peeling so I reglued them.
The interior of the shoes are hardly worn. Overall amazing condition for their age! I have shoe trees for them as well.

 

[Jennison]

Venetian shoe cream is a great choice. I use Bick 4 which absolutely does not darken leather and is nearly impossible to over use. It contains no wax so you can decide if and how you want to apply that.

 

[Drzdave58]

Venetian shoe cream is a great choice. I use Bick 4 which absolutely does not darken leather and is nearly impossible to over use. It contains no wax so you can decide if and how you want to apply that.

Yes...I have Bick 4 as well..I use them both.

 

[Drzdave58]

I posted a short video of my John McHales and Florsheim for those who may be interested.

 

[leper-colony]

No direct experience with these.

M-43 Desert Mid-Calf Martin Boots

The M-43 boot, originally worn by the Navy in the 1940s and retired in 2016, gained fame from "The Great Escape." Retaining its 1963 design, this version features a water-resistant suede upper, durable double-stitching, and a unique turn-up technique. Ideal for rugged outdoor adventures and...

shopkaraku.com

 

[B-Man2]

Been wearing these ATF US Army Rough Outs since I joined the forum in 2009. Still wearing them. They’ve been dubbed once a year for the last 15 years. The heels have worn thru in places and I used rubber bathroom caulk to fill up the inside sections of the heels. The heels have worn down on the outside of the heel very badly, so I took a pocket knife and cut the inside of the heels down to level them out. These boots are worn for all work jobs and they are still going strong . I’d advise anyone thinking of getting a pair to make the
purchase .
Cheers

 

[B-Man2]

 

[mulceber]

Burt, those boots look like they went through Okinawa.

…that’s a compliment.